12.06.2010

Smart Design Mart, a fantastic curated sale of local designers, artists and vintage collectors has come and gone. I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend (my birthday weekend!) amongst a group of truly talented peers and I feel really pleased to have stepped out of my comfort zone and participated in this event. Here are my favorite things about Smart Mart:

1) Having an excuse to build furniture, including my log garment rack, branch chandelier, and a table made out of an old window I found on the street. Where will I find the time to begin my new industrial design career I wonder?

2) Having an excuse to wear something other than the leather leggings and black sweater that I wear EVERY DAY when I work from home. Oh, and also to put on makeup and perfume and wash my hair. Oh....except I'm basically wearing a black sweater and leather leggings in the next photo.....um, just imagine how good I smell.

3) To be grouped amongst such talented individuals and have a chance to expand my knowledge of what people in Montreal are making. I've reached this point in my life where most of my close friends are, or are approaching, being self-employed full time and I LOVE! the chance to talk with people who live off their skills and find a way to make it work. Building those relationships is integral to any sort of happiness or success and I really enjoyed meeting more people with whom I can communicate about business, creativity and the like.

4) To be surrounded by best friends and new friends I can't wait to get to know better. I was lucky to be placed between my main girl, Genevieve Savard, and the super talented Audrey Cantwell (the sweetest girl you'll ever meet). I also loved having a chance to visit with Katie and Regine from Victoire (and I even got to hold Eloise(!)) as well as a wealth of other just seriously awesome people.

Pretty Genevieve. Go check out her blog here for more photos of the weekend. And then go buy something from her online shop, she does fantastic work.

Delightful Audrey Cantwell. I'm so pleased to have met and befriended her after so long coveting her work from afar.

Lovely Regine, one half of Ottawa's very best shop, Victoire. I wish I had a photo of her business Partner Katie as well, but I'll just have to make a point of having a Katie photoshoot next time I see her. These are two of the greatest women you'll ever meet.

5) Seeing old friends and meeting new people. It's such a pleasure to have strangers come up to your booth and tell you they like what you're making. I met a lot of people that I really hope I'm able to share future conversations with. I loved being able to talk about my process with people who are interested in that sort of thing, and also to talk about my business with people who are interested in that sort of thing. And the stylists! I'm happy just to look at them.

6) Buying things!!!! And though I was very restrained this time around, I did pick up a little something for my littlest girl. Loyal Luxe was selling these cardboard cat teepees and chalets and, what can I say? I'm a sucker for baby gifts. My baby just happens to be particularly furry. As soon as we brought it home she jumped on the box (they must put catnip in this shit) and she's barely budged from her perch inside it since. Behold Cleo's ghostly visage in the photo below, have you ever seen something so cute?

Anyone who wants a cat teepee for Christmas let me know, I'll try and bring one home for you. I'm hoping Loyal Luxe will also be at Puces Pop in two weeks which, oh yeah, I will be too!

Thanks again so much to everyone who spent so much time organizing, participating in and visiting this event. These are the sorts of things that make for a truly special community.